Potential risks of combining medications

Medicines for treatment of pain and mental illness have benefits and risks.
For women, 7 in 10 prescription drug deaths include painkillers. But other
prescription drugs play a role in overdoses as well. Women are more likely
than men to die of overdoses on medicines for mental health conditions, like
antidepressants. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety or sleep
drugs) send more women than men to emergency departments. Mental health
drugs can be especially dangerous when mixed with prescription painkillers
and/or alcohol. If you take mental health drugs and prescription painkillers,
discuss the combination with your health care provider.